Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW) - Reduce Energy A Bit More

Welcome to Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)!

Wondering how to live greener? You've come to the right place. Each week we challenge ourselves to try a new task ... or "amp up" something we're already doing. We raise our awareness, learn from each other and develop Eco-friendly skills which will improve our lives and protect our planet. Doing so together gives us power ... the power to Change The World!

If this is your first visit, please click HERE for information and a complete list of all the challenges we've taken on so far.

This post contains great information and I encourage you to read through it at your leisure ... however, if you are short on time, you might find the following quick links helpful:

• The #CTWW Gang
• The Honor Society
• My Final Thoughts on Our Last Challenge
• This Week's Challenge

I loved our challenge last week. We put on our walking shoes and headed outside with a special emphasis on picking up litter. Our favorite path wanders along a river. While we found a few pieces of trash, there wasn't a lot (Yay). Looking for litter quickly became a habit and we began checking public spaces whenever we left the house ... parking lots, sidewalks, parks, etc. It was a fun week!

The Honor Society are those people who help us spread the "green" word by writing an article about our challenges and/or leaving pertinent comments.

Valerie gave us an update on our challenge to close the door. As you might remember, she commented that she and her family also make an effort to keep the doors to their home closed. I asked her if it was to save energy. Here's her reply: "We keep the house at a constant 73 degrees year round, so yeah the door-closing is to keep the air/heat from having to work harder (thus, reducing the electric bill!) :) "

Argentum Vulgaris took this activity to a new high! He not only picked up litter but he cleaned up after a neighbor's dog. Wow! Then he talked to the neighbor to find a solution to the problem. Read Change the World Wednesday – 19th Jun to find out how that went!

Lois said "I fear I will fail miserably this week. I did take a walk today, twice actually and found zero trash. Before I admit failure I will continue to look each day. You didn't say it had to be today, right?" She then followed up with Change the World Wednesday, nothing where she talks about her efforts. I don't know about you but after reading her post I felt that she was totally successful ... walking and not finding anything is a good thing!

Lisa talks about the many benefits of walking in Walking – It’s Good For the Planet and for You! She points out that it is a great way to meet your neighbors and discusses how it affects one's thinking and outlook.

Tiffany C joined us and shared this, "Taking a walk? That's right up my alley! We do it all the time. We have a pretty litter free area, but I definitely want to look into doing cleanups in other areas. The boys would like that too! Thanks for the push!" By the way, if you haven't visited Tristin and Tyler's Tales of the City lately, please do. My favorite Eco-kids are up to all kinds of new and interesting activities. If you have kids, bring them along ... it's a fun site!

Michelle A. gave CTWW a headline spot in this edition of The Green Daily. Other interesting articles include Parking? Lots! A case study of absurd and pernicious parking rules, New York City gets public solar-powered cellphone chargers and a sad piece about a dolphin that died after being manhandled by tourists.

Zoe stopped by and shared this about a previous challenge, "I try to keep the fridge shut as I am totally with you on that, but I do sometimes have to have a wrestling match with my 2 year old when he decides he wants to have a look in the fridge as he doesn't quite get that it isn't a good idea to leave the door open for long periods of time!"

The Shopping Charity gave CTWW a nice mention. Other stories include one about vaccinations for children, another about a keepsake cremation urn and one about how to avoid GMO foods. Quite a diverse paper!

Alicia went for a walk and reports back with this, "Our area is usually pretty clean out here in the country but I went for a walk the other day and was surprised to see quite a bit of small litter on the side of the road. Lets me know that I need to be more diligent to check it out better on my walks."

Our Twitter friends joined the conversation and shared the following:

From @givetreegifts
- Cycle or walk instead of driving ow.ly/mblji
- 10 reasons why you should walk instead of drive ow.ly/mblo4
- Walking, biking instead of driving offers significant health benefits ow.ly/mblzF
- Walking for Weight Loss: 4 Places to Walk to Instead of Driving ow.ly/mblH7
- Green Living FAQ: Why is it better to walk instead of drive? ow.ly/mblNS

From @counselorholley
- I'm in the mountains - walking & hiking everywhere! Great challenge!

From @soulfullab
- I live in a walk friendly neighborhood and love doing it. I too pick up bottles to recycle. Lots of litter bugs here!!
- Its ridiculous! Laguna Beach health conscious people leaving H2O and Kombucha bottles on ground!

The #CTWW Gang are those folks who tweet our challenges using the hashtag #CTWW. If you're a Twitter member, I recommend following them ... they share great things. Let's meet them:

@89linz	@a_k_taylor	@a_kiasi
@allnaturalkatie	@anitaadamsnc	@beatepdx
@biculturalmama	@biggreenpen	@bstoneblog
@charityparkerso	@counselorholley	@crazedkitchen
@dusdifissette	@ecoexpert1	@ecopro_co
@ecothrifty	@ecwrites	@eddiegear
@familyfocusblog	@frederickbrooke	@ginavalley
@givetreegifts	@gr8fulgirl11	@greenearthbazar
@greeneral	@greeningwestfor	@groovygreenlivi
@growingearth1	@hismerecry	@hwilson2009
@ithoughtiknewma	@jadekerrion	@jnaquins
@jnjgogreen	@juliarbarrett	@krmbalclothing
@laalicia	@lady_bren	@ladyjcmuses
@linap	@lisas_alter_ego	@lorcadamon
@mamapoolecooks	@marjoriemcatee	@mcmillendc
@mom2tle	@momgamerwriter	@mommyladyclub
@ourfamilyworld	@pinkladyapril	@ppatch_blog
@rachelintheoc	@rckweddings	@realityarts
@rebeccatdickson	@rulesofgreen	@shoppingcharity
@skipbang	@soulfullab	@spilldmilkshake
@squishablebaby	@squishablebaby	@stilettofiles
@tiffanywashko	@treesgroup	@tristinandtyler
@turningclockbac	@twicecreations	@wencdj
@whopaysthepiper	@wormholeriders	@yfnjman
@zenfarmz

My Final Thoughts:

I appreciate everyone who takes the time to pick up litter ... to clean up after others. It is my hope that this blog reaches people who neglect to dispose of trash properly and, perhaps, teaches them a better way. Littering is avoidable. By using designated bins, we protect our environment and show our respect for the world we live in.

Thanks, everyone! If you wrote an article, I Stumbled, Tweeted, Facebooked and posted it on Google +. You can help spread the "green" word by using the share features located below this post.

This Week's Challenge:

For green "newbies" reducing energy is easy ... they have many opportunities for improvement. For seasoned "greenies", it's tougher ... they have to search hard to uncover opportunities. Here's your challenge ...

This week, find at least one way to reduce energy use in your home. Need some ideas? If you have an incandescent light bulb, replace it with a LED or CFL. If your computer, modem and accessories are always on, try turning them off for a time. Try using table top appliances like a crock pot, toaster oven or steamer instead of your oven. If you use air conditioning or heat, try adjusting it by a couple of degrees. Unplug cell phone chargers, coffee makers or electronic docking stations. The goal is to take one step more to reduce energy use.

Can you accomplish this task? I know that you can!!

Until next time ...

WE'RE CHANGING THE WORLD ... ONE CHALLENGE AT A TIME!

Guest Post - Eco-Friendly Mattresses

When it comes to transforming our home into a green and more environmentally friendly place, a lot of us forget about the place where we spend one-third of our lives, our bedrooms, specifically our mattresses. The harsh reality is that most mattresses can be quite damaging to our environment. Also mattresses can actually be harmful to you as well.

For example the materials often used to make the adhesive that holds mattresses together is formaldehyde, and has been linked to asthma, allergies, and throat, lung and nose cancer. Mattresses flame-retardants can be full of chemicals. And finally mattresses often use synthetic or processed coverings, which are the parts closest to where you rest.

Companies such as Saatva understand the huge threat that mattresses can be for the environment as well as for the consumer, and have been addressing it by putting great emphasis on our health and the environment.

Without stores, Saatva’s online-only business model makes their carbon footprint minimal when compared to their competitors. Their bio-based memory-foam layer is made with corn and soy, and their foams are never processed with formaldehyde. Their foams are also tested and certified to meet environmental, health, and safety standards. They use a natural thistle flame retardant and are able to meet flame retardant laws using an organic thistle barrier that is effective yet gentle on skin.

Saatva’s recycled steel inner springs are constructed with recycled and oven baked tempered steel to create the strongest and most durable mattresses while reducing waste. Their mattress coverings are also made from organic cotton, a healthier choice for your health and environment.

Before you go to bed tonight perhaps stop to think about how your mattress might be damaging our environment as well as your health, and consider an Eco-friendly company that has both the environment and our health in mind.

This post was entered in the Dude, Sustainable! Blog Hop!

Meet & Greet Monday (#MtaGt) - Soulful Lab

Welcome to Meet & Greet Monday, a regular series designed to grow our green community.

Banner by Art Ist

Grab our banner for your site:<br /> <a href="http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com/p/meet-greet.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img alt="A link-up for green blogs on Reduce Footprints Blog" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDkes4Ye110zbirkxMV6FAevl_7ymkBSWTCsXC7Li1_Vqm5HuIZkn81pN-CFX8iYJkLxAnDNccMjfHmFEMX8Hy8kFjkepmewEnRhBII4indKyexo3L1n6QDC0YrS0jY5Jy94ZyCLUx-_sg/s220/meet--and-greet-003-1000.jpg"/></a></a>
The rules:

1. Use the link-up tool below to share your green-living blog or collection of environmental posts.
2. Visit at least one other blog and/or the featured site and leave a pertinent comment.
3. The link-up closes on Thursday at 6:00 pm (EDT).
4. Random.org determines the featured site each week.

When most of us travel, we pack the usual stuff ... clothing, toiletries, etc. We might include a first aid kit with cleansing wipes, bandages and medicated ointment. When Cristina, of Soulful Lab travels she packs native remedies ... things like Saline Spray, Epsom Salts, Baking Soda and Aloe Vera Gel. She also carries essential oil blends to cover things like motion sickness, teething, aches & pains and inflammation. In Your New Native Aid Kit she offers readers a printable list of items along with suggested uses. Soulful Lab has other interesting content. I found a post on how to organize your kitchen and another on frozen organic produce. Name brand or generic? includes great tips on deciding which products are best for your purposes. Hop over and check out Soulful Lab, this week's featured blog!

For previous features & blogs, check out the Meet & Greet Page: http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com/p/meet-greet.html.

Our link-up is live. Please list your blog, visit and have fun!

PLEASE NOTE ... we're accepting links from blogs this week ... stay tuned as this will change from time to time.

How does your income affect green living?

Many people, myself included, feel that green living walks hand-in-hand with frugal living. Reducing, reusing and recycling save us money. With today's world economy, conserving our income motivates us to walk gently on the earth.

But what if money were no issue?

Would we live as consciously?

That's the subject of this month's survey. Please choose a response and then click the box labeled "Please Explain" and elaborate on your answer.

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey , the world's leading questionnaire tool.

Image courtesy of ponsulak / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW) - Take a Walk

Welcome to Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)!

Wondering how to live greener? You've come to the right place. Each week we challenge ourselves to try a new task ... or "amp up" something we're already doing. We raise our awareness, learn from each other and develop Eco-friendly skills which will improve our lives and protect our planet. Doing so together gives us power ... the power to Change The World!

If this is your first visit, please click HERE for information and a complete list of all the challenges we've taken on so far.

This post contains great information and I encourage you to read through it at your leisure ... however, if you are short on time, you might find the following quick links helpful:

• The #CTWW Gang
• The Honor Society
• This Week's Challenge

Last week we closed the refrigerator/freezer door. It seemed easy enough ... right? But maybe not! Some people graze, nibbling a little of this or that as they browse the shelves ... some people gaze, searching for something to eat or prepare for dinner ... and some people simply hope that the door will shut on its own. Leaving it open for too long wastes energy. I learned something new, however. The cool air inside the unit weighs almost nothing and therefore has a tiny heat capacity. So, if the refrigerator is reasonably full, leaving the door open for a brief time (e.g. the amount of time it takes to pour a drink) won't waste energy. It's the grazing and gazing that could pose a problem.

The Honor Society are those people who help us spread the "green" word by writing an article about our challenges and/or leaving pertinent comments.

EcoGrrl offers an interesting idea: "As this is a fairly easy challenge I thought I'd comment on refrigerators in general, as I know some super-eco folks have gotten to the point of not needing one. My desire is that I'd rather have the refrigerator portion turned into a freezer and vice versa. Anyone seen anything like that? My refrigerator, which is only a mid-size, is rarely if ever more than a third full, as I eat fresh so much that most of it is just leftovers. Yet I have a half freezer in the basement because of my frozen fruits, berries, and annual salmon delivery. Ideas anyone?? :) "

In Change the World Wednesday – 12th Jun Argentum Vulgaris talks about why shutting the door to pour a drink might make matters worse ... it has to do with the second "whoosh".

Petunia GreenBeans shared our challenge in Tweets For Good. There are a ton of great pieces in that edition and if you scroll to the bottom of the page, you'll find a bunch of CTWW articles. Is one yours?

I knew that this challenge would be easy for Lois. She says, "I have no fridge or freezer, although my new freezer should be arriving soon, just in time to hold my garden's bounty for winter. While this challenge seems simple I know plenty of people who don't give a thought to the money they waste by leaving the door open, so this was a good choice." If you're curious about how Lois lives without a refrigerator ... or a stove/oven ... read Change the World Wednesday, June 12th. Be sure to read the comments because I was curious about how Lois cooks meals and she was gracious enough to answer my questions.

Alicia has come up with a clever idea to conserve energy. She shares, "I am so glad that you brought this to our attention! I really hadn't thought much about opening the fridge and freezer doors. You are so right standing with the door opens lets so much cold air out. We like to drink lots of liquids in the Summer months so we open the fridge a lot. I recently bought a couple of double insulated carafe's I am going to put a couple of large pitchers of water and juice in the fridge to chill overnight and then in the morning pour them into the insulated carafe's and sit them on the kitchen counter. They will stay cool for hours and we won't have to open the fridge to get something cool to drink!" Great idea, Alicia!!

Valerie offers us something new to think about: "I'm happy to say this isn't even a challenge for us because we always close the door back as soon as we remove what we need. :) We have taught the kids that you don't open it and just stand there. Another similar challenge would be closing the doors to the house. If we have someone come to the door, we either go outside to talk to them or invite them in - doors get closed! And if we are bringing groceries or similar in, someone is the "door person" so that it can be quickly closed. We sound obsessive but we're really not. ;) haha" I'd love to hear more about closing the door to your home, Valerie ... is that to keep temperature-controlled air inside?

In Sustainable Education Initiative, Tammy Curry gives CTWW a top headline spot. Thanks, Tammy! This edition mentions Nebraska's Keystone XL Lawsuit, a post on how to trim an artichoke and one about a boy who catches a 100-pound fish.

McBride’s Organic Farm Daily gave CTWW a lovely mention. The edition also includes information on vegan and organic foods as well as GMOs.

Alaiyo stopped in and says, "You're keeping me thinking about all the ways that I might be using (or misusing) energy. I remember keeping doors closed from childhood, as our parents would yell that we were letting out the cool air." By the way, if you eat fish be sure to visit Alaiyo's blog ... she offers sustainable fish information and great recipes. If you're vegan, you'll find that most of her recipes include a vegan option. Oh yeah!!

Mrs. Green gets an "A" this week! Shut the door and save energy speaks to her efforts and towards the end of the article she offers a brilliant, energy-saving suggestion. I've never seen her idea available for homeowners ... have you? I love it!

Lisa captured her son "in the act". The photo she shares might be a familiar sight to some of you. See it HERE. The post includes a lot of great information.

Our Twitter friend, @givetreegifts, joined the conversation and shared the following:

- Organize fridge & freezer so that you know exactly where things are & what you have. You'll spend less time w/ door open searching
- Think about what you want from the fridge or freezer before opening the door. You'll spend less time w/ door open searching
- Freezer Door Pops Open When You Close The Refrigerator Door - YouTube ow.ly/lXrbf
- How to Fix a Freezer Door Seal ow.ly/lXrhI
- How Much Electricity Opening the Refrigerator Door Wastes - Refrigerator Energy - The Daily Green ow.ly/lXrrn
- 10 ways energy is wasted in the home? ow.ly/lXrz2
- Energy Saving Tips: The Refrigerator and Freezer ow.ly/lXrPA

The #CTWW Gang are those folks who tweet our challenges using the hashtag #CTWW. If you're a Twitter member, I recommend following them ... they share great things. Let's meet them:

@89linz	@amberrisme	@andyholloman
@anitaadamsnc	@aspieretro	@astestsite
@beatepdx	@bethanngarland	@biculturalmama
@biggreenpen	@bstoneblog	@carolinaghmore
@carolinaghmore?	@charityparkerso	@ciaraballintyne
@conservationm	@counselorholley	@crazykids6
@dianecapri	@dusdifissette	@ecoexpert1
@ecokarenlee	@ecopro_co	@ecothrifty
@eddiegear	@ericaluckedean	@etsnetworksinc
@familyfocusblog	@femmekatz	@frederickbrooke
@gigivaneyck	@ginavalley	@givetreegifts
@gogreenbeans?	@gr8fulgirl11	@greeneral
@groovygreenlivi	@growingearth1	@healthfulchef
@hismerecry	@ithoughtiknewma	@jadekerrion
@jnaquins	@jnjgogreen	@julialittlebit
@juliarbarrett	@justinbog	@krmbalclothing
@laalicia	@lady_bren	@ladyjcmuses
@lavishandlime	@linap	@lisas_alter_ego
@lmkolar1	@lorcadamon	@maliamallory
@marjoriemcatee	@masqcrew	@mcmillendc
@mom2tle	@momgamerwriter	@murielgarden
@nitaadamsnc	@nolafusion	@oneadayart
@ourfamilyworld	@piaktw	@pinkladyapril
@preppercentral	@raine_thomas	@rckweddings
@rebeccatdickson	@robblightfoot	@roristories
@rozdb	@rulesofgreen	@skipbang
@snarkfestblog	@soulfullab	@tammycurry
@thefadderly	@theworld4realz	@tiffanywashko
@tobywneal	@treesgroup	@vocalmedwoman
@wencdj	@whopaysthepiper	@whywelovegreen
@wrenmeyers	@wxmouse	@zenfarmz

Thanks, everyone! If you wrote an article, I Stumbled, Tweeted, Facebooked and posted it on Google +. You can help spread the "green" word by using the share features located below this post.

This Week's Challenge:

We haven't gone for a walk in awhile so ... let's do that! Here you go ...

This week go for a walk and pick up litter.

OR ...

If your area is litter-free, join a group to help clean up a river or public space.

Ready to put on your walking shoes? Yep ... I know that you are!

Until next time ...

WE'RE CHANGING THE WORLD ... ONE CHALLENGE AT A TIME!

Guest Post - The Solar Timeline

Solar Energy has been touted as the clean sustainable answer to many of our energy problems. As recently as February this year Ofgem announced that between 2015 - 2018 we will be dangerously close to a crisis that will push up energy prices further, a worrying proposition.

This may not come as a surprise to you, but you may be surprised to know that Solar energy has long been heralded the answer to our energy issues, as far back as 1905 when Einsteins paper, that later won the noble prize engaged the Photoelectric effect we celebrated using the Sun to power our world! So it struck us that sometimes that new technology that you hear about, maybe took longer than you thought. This timeline takes you through some of the landmark solar events on our journey to harness the power of the sun. We hope you enjoy it!

Click twice for a larger version

Original article: http://www.theecoexperts.co.uk/the-history-of-solar-energy-infographic

Link - Created by Alex Vasili of http://www.theecoexperts.co.uk/

Alex writes about all issues on the green agenda, he has a specific interest in the growth of Solar technology and currently manages the leading solar panel comparison site and one of the most active green agenda blogs in UK. You can tweet him @TheEcoExperts

Meet & Greet Monday (#MtaGt) - Crazy 4 Green

Welcome to Meet & Greet Monday, a regular series designed to grow our green community.

Banner by Art Ist

Grab our banner for your site:<br /> <a href="http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com/p/meet-greet.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img alt="A link-up for green blogs on Reduce Footprints Blog" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDkes4Ye110zbirkxMV6FAevl_7ymkBSWTCsXC7Li1_Vqm5HuIZkn81pN-CFX8iYJkLxAnDNccMjfHmFEMX8Hy8kFjkepmewEnRhBII4indKyexo3L1n6QDC0YrS0jY5Jy94ZyCLUx-_sg/s220/meet--and-greet-003-1000.jpg"/></a></a>
The rules:

1. Use the link-up tool below to share your green-living blog or collection of environmental posts.
2. Visit at least one other blog and/or the featured site and leave a pertinent comment.
3. The link-up closes on Thursday at 6:00 pm (EDT).
4. Random.org determines the featured site each week.

Have you ever wished for a "one-stop-shop" on green living ... a place where you could find green tips, recipes for Eco-friendly cleansers, product & company recommendations, challenges and more? Then take a look at Crazy 4 Green. This blog is a fabulous resource! The Natural Body Care and Remedies page, a personal favorite, includes information such as how to fight dandruff using vinegar and how to fortify your skin with walnuts. On the page entitled Dirt Load of Green Tips, one will find helpful ideas like using a pressure cooker to reduce cooking time and save energy. Charlie (aka Tina), the blog's owner, invites readers to share their favorite "green" sites, products and even their own blogs on Eco Shout Out. The tab labeled Changes for Charlie takes readers to her personal blog where she shares a bit about her life, her struggles with the loss of family members and Peri-menopause, and the joys of adoption. One word of caution ... Crazy 4 Green can become habit forming due to the wealth of interesting, informative content and can quickly take up hours of your time. You've been warned!

For previous features & blogs, check out the Meet & Greet Page: http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com/p/meet-greet.html.

Our link-up is live. Please list your blog, visit and have fun!

PLEASE NOTE ... we're accepting links from blogs this week ... stay tuned as this will change from time to time.

Review - thinksport body care products & reusable bottle

I like taking surveys ... go figure. A question which often comes up is whether or not I believe a brand is "fun". I never quite understood that concept until I was introduced to thinksport.

The email I received, inviting me to collaborate with thinksport, was signed by their "Chief Thinker" ... that made me smile. I checked out the company and, deciding that their philosophy fit with mine, agreed to try some of their products.

I ALWAYS read labels. Thinksport labels list ingredients and even show the Environmental Working Group's (EWG) rating for each element along with a link to EWG's skin deep database so that we can check out their claims for ourselves. They include all the legal stuff and information about missing ingredients ... things like parabens, phthalates and harmful chemicals. So where's the fun part, you ask?

The shampoo label makes it clear that it won't help you solve Einstein's Theory of Relativity or ride your bike faster. It directs users to apply the product to "wet stinky head and body". After noting that the conditioner is only tested on humans, the user is encouraged to "go play". And, the skin lotion label points out that if we fail to use a lot, then it will take forever to buy more. Fun!

A humorous label is nice but how seriously do they take their mission statement to provide safe consumer products? In my opinion, they are committed to their goal. Their website states that they don't wait for a material to hit the headlines with negative press about safety before taking action. They are proactive in testing, learning and making changes before concerns are raised.

I received thinksport's After Sport Skin Lotion, Sport Shampoo & Body Wash, Conditioner and an Insulated Sports Bottle to review.

The skin lotion has a light, citrus scent. It feels silky and absorbs into the skin without leaving a greasy film. I used the lotion on my body, including my face, without any skin irritation. With ingredients like Aloe, Vitamin E and Witch Hazel, the lotion nourishes and repairs.

I love the shampoo & body wash. As a shampoo it leaves my hair feeling clean. The grapefruit scent is refreshing. The product washes out completely leaving no residue ... just squeaky clean hair.

This conditioner leaves my hair feeling soft and looking shiny. A little goes a long ways so this product, in addition to being effective, is also worth the cost. True to the label's claim, I didn't become a super hero after use.

I received the 25 oz (750 ml) insulated water bottle to test. If you've never tried an insulated bottle, you are missing out. This double-walled stainless steel bottle keeps water cold for hours. It has a clever wire mesh filter so that ice doesn't escape when drinking (don't you hate it when you have to battle ice to get the water). It is sweat-free and the lightweight construction makes it easy to hold and carry. My bottle, the purple one, is beautiful.






By the way, this company also offers baby products such as safe bottles, nipples, shampoos and sunscreen. If you have little ones, check out Thinkbaby.

I recommend Thinksport. They are a dedicated company, taking our health and the planet's seriously. They are also fun!


I received products in order to write this review. I received no other compensation. All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone and reflect my honest opinion of the material reviewed.

Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW) - Close The Door

Welcome to Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)!

Wondering how to live greener? You've come to the right place. Each week we challenge ourselves to try a new task ... or "amp up" something we're already doing. We raise our awareness, learn from each other and develop Eco-friendly skills which will improve our lives and protect our planet. Doing so together gives us power ... the power to Change The World!

If this is your first visit, please click HERE for information and a complete list of all the challenges we've taken on so far.

Before we get started, I'd like to introduce you to the brand new Reduce Footprints FACEBOOK PAGE. What will you find on that page? To start, I'll be posting daily green tips and opening up discussions on green topics. Stop by and "Like" the page ... and, as always, if you have suggestions about what you'd like to see, just let me know.

This post contains great information and I encourage you to read through it at your leisure ... however, if you are short on time, you might find the following quick links helpful:

• The #CTWW Gang
• The Honor Society
• My Final Thoughts on Our Last Challenge
• This Week's Challenge

Which activity did you choose last week ... drive less, go vegetarian or both? Since I'm vegan, I chose the first option. We work from home and don't have to contend with a daily commute. That, in itself, lowers our mileage. But we do drive to the market, bank, library, etc. To meet this challenge, I thought about ways to make those trips more efficient. Rather than head out whenever we needed something, we planned our outings, grouping errands so that we got the most out of one trip. We also realized that sometimes we use the car as a way to get out of the house ... fun but not fuel efficient. Walking accomplished the goal without using gas. We spent a relaxing, calm week ... an unexpected side benefit to the challenge.

The Honor Society are those people who help us spread the "green" word by writing an article about our challenges and/or leaving pertinent comments.

EcoGrrl joined us and says, "I don't have a car (over 5 years car-free now!) and only use carsharing once or twice a month for client visits that aren't accessible by bike/bus :) I've been gluten and dairy free for 3 months now and it's given me such a focus on more whole foods because you have to be more conscious about what you eat. Today I had a sweet potato stir fry for breakfast. a vegan Greek tart for lunch with the most amazing vegan ice cream sandwich (oh heck yeah, coconut bliss!!), and the most incredible salad of "Arugula, quinoa, fennel, sunflower seeds, tomato, with OPH summer strawberry champagne vinegar salad dressing." Oregon Public House is the first nonprofit pub of its kind and the food is even better than the mission!! I'm lucky to be in Portland where people appreciate diverse food, respect dietary preferences, and expect good, organic, locally sourced ingredients :) (I'm not turning into a vegan though - I just consider meat/fish a special occasion "dessert" rather than the "main course")" Brilliant, EcoGrrl ... you are an Eco Rock Star.

The Change The World Paper #ecotalk gave CTWW an entire column which includes your articles. WhooHoo! Thanks to Brenna of Almost All The Truth. Be sure to check out the rest of that paper for interesting articles on GMOs, chemicals in our body, and the cost of organic food.

Elkieb accepted a previous challenge to eliminate paper towels and napkins. In Banish? Impossible? she talks about cloth versus fairly-traded 100% recycled paper and discusses whether or not cloth is the best choice, especially in the way she uses paper. Check it out and leave your opinion.

Beef-free weeks ... quiche with mushrooms, peas and corn ... and wearing underwear on the inside (rather than outside). Oh yeah ... sounds like an Argentum Vulgaris post (with comments) to me. Curious? Read Change the World Wednesday – 5th Jun for details.

Which activity do you think Alicia chose? Read on ... "We are I guess 97% Vegan because we eat no dairy but will have fish a few times during the year. So the meatless challenge is no problem for us. The drive less is a bigger challenge, We live out in the country and other than a small market about 4 miles away the next actual store is 8 miles away. We always try to make our trips into town count by making lists of what we need to get from the different stores in town and then making one trip to get everything on all the lists.I also am able to do my shopping when I am delivering which really helps out a lot. Our business requires us to deliver our products to the retail stores that carry them all over the Nashville area. This means lots of driving but we try to make certain days delivery days which really helps cut back on driving time and fuel cost."

For those of you who read Lois's blog regularly, you know that she is quite "green". She grows food and recycles found objects. She even gave up her refrigerator and found alternate, energy-free ways to store food. But was she able to meet this challenge? Find out in Change the world Wednesday. Need a hint? Since 1986 she's been ... on second thought ... you'll have to read the post.

Welcome to Linne who, via Lois's blog, found our challenge and posted a link on her blog, A Random Harvest. While you're there, be sure to browse around ... I found some wonderful articles!

Ever have one of those days when the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak? CelloMom, a true "greenie", talks about her evil twin and offers us motivation in Green Is Frugal! Reducing Car Use and Meat Consumption. Do you think that being lazy is Eco-friendly? CelloMom addresses that interesting concept in How to Save Water (and Work) When Washing Your Car and a follow-up in Part 2.

Laura weighed in on our water reduction challenge. She shares this: "Speaking of being frugal with water, have you ever heard of hydroponic farming? Might be something to read about. Americans are over zealous about so called "hygiene" and I think it is at least partially due to all of the commercials from the big soap manufacturers. Too much cleaning can actually be harmful as it can strip both your skin and your hair of their natural oils to the point where your body tries to compensate by over producing oils. Constant cleaning with anti bacterial cleaners also can cause illness as those cleaners do not kill the most vicious microbes, leaving them the "run of the house" so they can multiply freely. Believe me I know people who work medical offices who have had this happen to them. The key to health is keeping things in balance."

Lisa wrote a terrific article entitled Driving less – Good for the Environment and Good for the Soul. She offers tips including one about using air conditioning. Check it out!

Our Twitter friends joined the conversation and shared the following:

From @pinkladyapril
- I walk most places & we eat veggie once a week already. I'm going to use veggie recipes rather than buying ready made

From @givetreegifts
- Vegan for a day...piece of cake! Driving less...My errands are planned for the shortest, most efficient route. I walk when possible

From @dusdifissette
- Option #2 for this week's #CTWW Challenge Accepted ;-)

The #CTWW Gang are those folks who tweet our challenges using the hashtag #CTWW. If you're a Twitter member, I recommend following them ... they share great things. Let's meet them:

@89linz	@anitaadamsnc	@beatepdx
@bestrawesome	@biculturalmama	@biggreenpen
@bstoneblog	@campaignerkaye	@carolinaghmore
@cellomomoncars	@conservationm	@counselorholley
@draconnect	@dusdifissette	@dw96
@earthyurban	@ecoexpert1	@ecokarenlee
@ecopro_co	@ecothrifty	@familyfocusblog
@frederickbrooke	@gigivaneyck	@ginavalley
@givetreegifts	@groovygreenlivi	@healthfulchef
@ithoughtiknewma	@jadekerrion	@jenberreyp
@jnjgogreen	@julialittlebit	@laalicia
@lady_bren	@ladyjcmuses	@lavishandlime
@linap	@littlegreenblog	@lorcadamon
@lyssaann42	@marjoriemcatee	@mary_caitlyn6
@mcmillendc	@mom2tle	@momgamerwriter
@nolafusion	@oneadayart	@pinkladyapril
@proamusa	@rckweddings	@rozdb
@rulesofgreen	@skipbang	@soulfullab
@sowandso	@startanewleaf	@stephenataylor2
@thefadderly	@theworld4realz	@tiffanywashko
@treesgroup	@twicecreations	@vic_cianci
@vocalmedwoman	@wencdj	@whopaysthepiper
@whywelovegreen	@zenfarmz

My Final Thoughts:

Living green is not a spectator sport ... it requires well-thought out action. It also requires that we sometimes set aside convenience and personal preference for the planet. I'll leave you with this thought: "A goal without a plan is just a wish" ... Antoine de Saint-Exupery.

Thanks, everyone! If you wrote an article, I Stumbled, Tweeted, Facebooked and posted it on Google +. You can help spread the "green" word by using the share features located below this post.

This Week's Challenge:

The other day I opened the freezer and ... WHOOSH ... I was hit with a blast of cold air. It was a physical reminder of how much energy is wasted when we open the door, especially when we stand there surveying the contents or "grazing". Here's your challenge:

This week be very mindful of opening the refrigerator and freezer. Resist browsing the contents and/or "grazing". Close the door rather than hold it open while you pour a glass of juice or quickly use an item to be returned to the shelf. When you must open the doors, minimize the time and shut them as quickly as possible.

Can you accomplish this task? I know that you can!!

Until next time ...

WE'RE CHANGING THE WORLD ... ONE CHALLENGE AT A TIME!


This post has been included in Green Living Thursdays at Dude, Sustainable!

Guest Post - How to Make your Car More Eco-Friendly

Although it would be environmentally and economically beneficial to not have to drive, unfortunately for many of us modern life requires a car. Whether it is commuting to work or just having a large family, being a car owner is an essential part of everyday living.

If you’re reading this website it is likely that you are trying to be as Eco-friendly as possible and, as such, it can be hard to justify having a car with your desire to reduce your carbon footprint.

So what’s the solution? The reality is that driving will never be completely Eco-friendly, however, unless you can realistically live day-to-day without a vehicle, the next best thing is to make sure your car is as fuel efficient as possible.

Fortunately, there are many simple ways of making your car is more Eco-friendly, some of which will save you money at the same time too.

Maintenance
One of the best ways of making your car more Eco-friendly is to ensure it is properly maintained. This means ensuring it has its annual service and MOT (Ministry of Transport test). Although this is an added expense in the short-term, in the long-term it will save you money as any mechanical problems will be picked-up and fixed earlier. It will also ensure that the car runs to the best of its ability – meaning that your engine will be finely tuned and your catalytic converter working properly.

Tyres
Making sure your tyres are inflated to their correct level will mean your car uses less fuel, and therefore emitting less CO2 into the atmosphere (an saving you money on fuel too). Many petrol stations will let you inflate your tyres for free, just remember it is something that needs to be done regularly.

Empty your boot (trunk)
We all do it – throw things into the boot and forget about it. But if your car is constantly carrying extra weight it is using more fuel. Make sure that you are only storing essential items in your car, anything else should be removed.

Drive slower
Do you speed on the motorway? If so, then simply slowing down will make your driving more Eco-friendly. Going at constant high speeds again uses more fuel, so sticking to the speed limit is safer, better for the environment and good on your wallet.

Walk more
Are there times when you drive but could actually walk or cycle instead? Not every journey requires a car, so next time the sun is shining and you need to pick up a pint of milk consider walking to your local shops – it is a great way to increase your exercise too.

Hybrid cars
Next time you need to buy a new car spend some time researching what hybrid cars are available. Many car manufacturers make hybrid models now and although they are often more expensive to buy, they normally save you money on fuel. Also because they have been around for several years now, second-hand hybrid cars are starting to become available.

Written by Derin Clark, a writer, editor and blogger

Meet & Greet Monday (#MtaGt) - Eco-Crap

Welcome to Meet & Greet Monday, a regular series designed to grow our green community.

Before we get started, I'd like to introduce you to the brand new Reduce Footprints FACEBOOK PAGE. What will you find on that page? To start, I'll be posting daily green tips and opening up discussions on green topics. Stop by and "Like" the page ... and, as always, if you have suggestions about what you'd like to see, just let me know.

Banner by Art Ist

Grab our banner for your site:<br /> <a href="http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com/p/meet-greet.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img alt="A linky for green blogs on Reduce Footprints Blog" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDkes4Ye110zbirkxMV6FAevl_7ymkBSWTCsXC7Li1_Vqm5HuIZkn81pN-CFX8iYJkLxAnDNccMjfHmFEMX8Hy8kFjkepmewEnRhBII4indKyexo3L1n6QDC0YrS0jY5Jy94ZyCLUx-_sg/s220/meet--and-greet-003-1000.jpg"/></a></a>
The rules:

1. Use the "linky" below to share your green-living blog or collection of environmental posts.
2. Visit at least one other blog and/or the featured site and leave a pertinent comment.
3. The linky closes on Thursday at 6:00 pm (EDT).
4. Random.org determines the featured site each week.

Edgy, thoughtful, irreverent, educational, entertaining ... these words all describe this week's featured blog, Eco-Crap. Argentum Vulgaris (AV), the blog's owner and author, starts the week out with Monday Moaning, a post which introduces disturbing issues negatively affecting life on earth. On Tuesdays, he presents Simple Green Ideas, a fun series with creative ideas such as making a fairy garden from a broken planter, landscaping with a "clunker" and creating a mailbox from an old computer. On Wednesdays, AV participates in Change The World Wednesday ... his posts typically offer a different slant on our challenges. Thursdays are surprises ... one might find a post on artists who turn trash into works of art or one on what happens when we steal from nature. Make you Fink on Friday presents the weird and unusual ... invasive lady bugs, cockroaches that have changed their taste to evade traps and cooking from compost. Satireday makes us laugh and appreciate the humor in our green life. Nature Ramble, on Sundays, is a great series where AV teaches us a bit about all the various life forms that call earth home. Here's another word that describes Eco-Crap ... honest. AV always tells it like it is ... without compromise or apology. Check it out ... you won't be sorry!

For previous features & blogs, check out the Meet & Greet Page: http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com/p/meet-greet.html.

Our linky is live. Please list your blog, visit and have fun!

PLEASE NOTE ... we're accepting links from blogs this week ... stay tuned as this will change from time to time.

Vegan Recipe - Caesar Dressing & 3 Minute Parmesan Cheese

Do you love Caesar Salad? The traditional version includes non-vegan ingredients like Worcestershire sauce, anchovy fillets, eggs, and Parmesan cheese. So when our very own Alicia (who you might know as a frequent Change The World Wednesday participant) agreed to be this month's guest chef and sent me this recipe ... well ... I'm pretty sure that even Caesar, himself, would approve. It includes good-for-you ingredients and a healthy "Parmesan Cheese". I can't wait to try it out!

A huge thanks to Alicia for sharing this recipe with us. I hope that you and your family enjoy it:


Vegan Caesar Dressing

Ingredients:

1/2 cup raw cashews
1/4 cup 3 minute Parmesan Cheese (recipe follows)
6 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1 clove garlic
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
Pinch of black pepper
1/2 cup water

Method:

Blend and process until smooth.
Adjust seasoning as necessary.
Dressing will thicken when it is refrigerated and you can add more water to reach the consistency you want.

3 Minute Vegan Parmesan Cheese

Ingredients:

1/2 cup toasted Sesame Seeds
2 Tablespoons Nutritional Yeast

Method:

Toast sesame seeds until lightly browned then add all ingredient to a blender and process for 30-60 seconds.

For other great recipes, Eco-friendly tips and more, visit Alicia at Eco Friendly Homemaking. And, be sure to check out her fabulous line of body care products at Eco Natural Soap (I've tried them & they are wonderful).

If you have a vegan recipe which you'd like to share, please contact me HERE. And for all the recipes we've shared so far, be sure to visit our recipe page using the tabs at the top of this blog ... or by clicking HERE.

Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW) - Your Choice

Welcome to Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)!

Wondering how to live greener? You've come to the right place. Each week we challenge ourselves to try a new task ... or "amp up" something we're already doing. We raise our awareness, learn from each other and develop Eco-friendly skills which will improve our lives and protect our planet. Doing so together gives us power ... the power to Change The World!

If this is your first visit, please click HERE for information and a complete list of all the challenges we've taken on so far.

This post contains great information and I encourage you to read through it at your leisure ... however, if you are short on time, you might find the following quick links helpful:

• The #CTWW Gang
• The Honor Society
• My Final Thoughts on Our Last Challenge
• This Week's Challenge

Last week we tackled water reduction, a difficult challenge for me because my vegetable garden is in full swing. While I do water in the morning and try to give plants just what they need (easy since I grow everything in containers and can see the run off), the fact remains that watering anything outside means I'm using more than usual. Still, I can work towards minimizing consumption by using rainfall, "leftover" water from the kitchen, etc. Also, since I grow food every year, I can look back at my usage from last year and measure my efforts.

The Honor Society are those people who help us spread the "green" word by writing an article about our challenges and/or leaving pertinent comments.

Lisa gave us an update from last week and talks about a common "greenie" problem: "Last Wednesday, I went into a hole. I knew I couldn't do it. I depend on the internet for my blog. When starting out, it's all about being consistent. I thought about the challenge a lot, but in the end - even the little grasshopper was elusive. This is going to be a very long winded comment, so forgive me. This morning, I went to the gym with a friend. We were talking about big families and carbon footprints. She had a very interesting view. She said - I know how the world is going to end, so why should I care about greenhouse gases, smog and the like. I looked at her like she was a nut. I love her, but that was a nutty thing to say in my opinion. That renewed my energy. People need to know and accept that it is their problem and they need to do their part to make it better. Am I wrong? So I will accept this challenge in earnest." Nope, Lisa ... I don't think you're wrong!

Argentum Vulgaris (AV) has been addressing this issue for awhile. Have his efforts paid off? Find out in this POST which also contains news about AV's Mean Green Leaf Eating Machine.

The The David Robinson Daily gave Change The World Wednesday a front page spot. WhooHoo! Other stories include Travel Tips: Preparedness and Piranhas in Peru - Living Ready Online, Deborah Moggach's Rules for Writing - Telegraph and Young adult fiction: latest trend and a new websit.

Alicia plans to write a post about water use soon. She shares "I think for the next week I am going to take a shower every other day not everyday. It may be something I will continue to do. My hair really does better if I don't shampoo it everyday anyway. We have a low flow shower head that really helps out. I sometimes get in a habit of washing the dishes in the sink which uses more water than id I ran the dishwasher. So I am going to make a real effort to just load the dishwasher."

Clare's situation is a bit different than most in that she realizes a direct & quick consequence when using water. She says "Oooh, water - now that's a BIG thing for me. Water is precious everywhere, but we tend to forget just how precious when it comes easily out of the tap (faucet). When I moved to this little island, I needed to learn water management. Each house has a water tank. We get water coming into the tank each morning, for just over an hour. No more until next morning. If you use up your water, you do without until tomorrow. And it's not good to empty your tank, because next morning when the water comes in, there won't be enough time for it to fill up. It's amazing how water-conscious you become when you know you have a limited supply! Now, we're getting a little more water each day, and I've noticed I'm slipping - my water usage is increasing commensurately. Time to fix that! For this challenge I'm sharing water saving tips. I've just uploaded a revised video about saving water, it's short and fun:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3WrRoJWsrU
And I've just published a blog on saving water with your washing machine:
http://www.ecofriendlylink.com/blog/energyefficientwashingmachine
Collect rainwater (if your state allows you to!) (see http://www.ecofriendlylink.com/blog/rainwaterharvestingsuperproducts) and use it to water the plants or bath the dogs or whatever. Let your lawn go brown this summer - it will survive perfectly (it just goes dormant) and you save a ton of water. And of course, keep all the water you use for washing veggies, cooking food etc and re-use for the plants / bird bath / humidifier / cleaning. But we're all doing that already! Thanks for a very timely challenge!"

Ann included our CTWW banner in an article entitled Photohunt: Something red,a red store which talks about how a local market made the decision to charge customers for plastic bags. She also includes the banner HERE.

Do you consider "Laziness" a virtue? Well, when it comes to conserving water, CelloMom says it pays off. Read all about that and get some great tips in How to Save Water (and Work) When Washing Your Car.

We all try to live green but what happens when we lack motivation (or consequences)? Mrs. Green addresses that topic in Reducing water consumption. She also published Softer water – more money, happy planet! which offers tips for making every drop count!

Our Twitter friends joined the conversation and shared the following:

From @conservationm
- Sweep outside with a broom. Yes, it's lots more fun using water, but just 5 minutes wastes about 25 gallons of water.

From @sewbeastly
- Taking the challenge! I'm timing my showers this week, @smallftprints. I usually take really long ones. Cutting it down to 8 mins!

From @counselorholley
- using less H2O & spreading the word - got it!

From @soulfullab
- Felt so proud of myself when water comp called to thank me for sweeping my driveway.

From @givetreegifts
- If you use eco friendly cleaning products, your gray water (bathing & shower) can be used to water plants & flush the toilet.
- Collect rain water in a water barrel for watering plants and veggies.
- When researching water purification systems, we discovered that reverse osmosis process wastes alot of water. We went with a distiller
- Indoor Water Conservation ow.ly/lypKq
- Water Usage Calculator, Water Conservation and Efficiency | Home Water Works ow.ly/lypMD
- WWF Canada - Fresh Water ow.ly/lypOK
- 100 Ways To Conserve | Water – Use It Wisely ow.ly/lypR8

From @squishablebaby
- Taking quicker showers will save more water
- HE appliances save lots of water/electric. With rebates it might even be less than non- HE counterpart

The #CTWW Gang are those folks who tweet our challenges using the hashtag #CTWW. If you're a Twitter member, I recommend following them ... they share great things. Let's meet them:

@89linz	@a_kiasi	@allnaturalkatie
@altcon	@anitaadamsnc	@beatepdx
@bestrawesome	@biculturalmama	@biggreenpen
@bstoneblog	@campaignerkaye	@cellomomoncars
@cleansediva	@conservationm	@counselorholley
@currenttimeww	@dusdifissette	@dw96
@earthyurban	@eco_novice	@ecoexpert1
@ecopro_co	@ecwrites	@etsnetworksinc
@familyfocusblog	@frederickbrooke	@givetreegifts
@groovygreenlivi	@gwened02	@imagebrite
@ithoughtiknewma	@jadekerrion	@julialittlebit
@laalicia	@ladyjcmuses	@lavishandlime
@leblancdanny	@lifelovemusic1	@linap
@lorcadamon	@lyssaann42	@marjoriemcatee
@mcmillendc	@mom2tle	@mombloggerplr
@momgamerwriter	@mommacuisine	@mommyladyclub
@nescwvu	@nolafusion	@oneadayart
@rckweddings	@realityarts	@rulesofgreen
@sewbeastly	@soulfullab	@squishablebaby
@stacys_gh	@startanewleaf	@thefadderly
@theworld4realz	@thinkpurema	@tiffanywashko
@timsimms	@treesgroup	@tsue1136
@turningclockbac	@twicecreations	@vocalmedwoman
@wencdj	@whopaysthepiper	@whywelovegreen
@will_solutions

My Final Thoughts:

Why save water? With less than 1% of the earth's supply fit for human use and with 7 billion people competing for it, there just isn't enough to go around. Yes, in some respects it is a sustainable resource, replenished via precipitation and ice cap melt. If that process were consistent and balanced throughout the world, we might do fine. But weather patterns and climate change have altered the game ... some people suffer droughts and others deal with flooding. Filling our reservoirs isn't a guarantee that we'll have plenty because, as experienced in California, the rains may fill them one day but the next may see the beginning of a long-term shortage. The water we save today could ensure our survival tomorrow.

Thanks, everyone! If you wrote an article, I Stumbled, Tweeted, Facebooked and posted it on Google +. You can help spread the "green" word by using the share features located below this post.

This Week's Challenge:

We had a tie for second place in our survey about the toughest green-living activities ... driving less and eating meatless meals. Sounds like perfect challenge material to me! Please choose from the following:

OPTION 1:
This week drive less ... or not at all. Consider walking or bicycling. Plan out trips so that the least mileage accomplishes the most. Plan at least one day when you leave the car parked and perhaps stay at home. Avoid quick trips to the market or driving your kids around when they could walk. If you must make a trip, consider public transportation or carpooling with a friend.

OR ...

OPTION 2:
This week, for at least one day, go vegan or vegetarian. Yep, meatless for a day ... longer if you can. Search the Internet for great recipes. You'll also find wonderful dishes (tried & tested) right here on this blog (click HERE or use the tabs above).

OR ...

If you are an Eco-Superstar, do both activities ... perhaps for the whole week.

Which option will you choose?

Until next time ...

WE'RE CHANGING THE WORLD ... ONE CHALLENGE AT A TIME!